Scottish Maternal and Infant Nutrition Survey (MINS) 2016/17
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Scottish Maternal and Infant Nutrition Survey (MINS) 2016/17
IRAS ID
218182
Contact name
Linda J Wolfson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Scottish Government
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Public Benefit & Privacy Panel Application, 1617-0220
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
The diet and nutritional status of mothers before and during pregnancy, the feeding received by infants in the first few months of life and the process of weaning onto solid foods all contribute to the long term health of the population. The purpose of this survey is to collect information about the nutritional choices that expectant / new mothers make for themselves and their babies and examine how these choices vary amongst key demographic groups.
The survey will collect information on maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, infant feeding and related health behaviours at different stages of pregnancy / motherhood. The main aims are to:
- establish the extent to which mothers make suitable nutritional and health adjustments preconception / during pregnancy;
- examine factors associated with mothers’ feeding intentions and practices;
- establish how infants are being fed and investigate variation in practices amongst different population groups;
- investigate weaning practices;
- measure levels of awareness of the Healthy Start scheme (www.healthystart.nhs.uk).Three separate cohorts of women will be invited to self-complete a questionnaire between March and July 2017:
1: Mothers with babies 8-12 months old.
2: Mothers with babies 8-12 weeks old.
3: Expectant mothers, 20+ weeks pregnant.For the two postnatal cohorts (Cohorts 1 & 2), National Records of Scotland (NRS) Birth Registration Records will be used to identify women with babies of the correct age. NRS will mail survey packs directly to mothers. For the antenatal cohort (Cohort 3), NHS Scotland maternity services will distribute survey packs to expectant mothers at routine antenatal appointments.
The survey aims to gather information associated with the Scottish Government’s Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework (2011). Findings will support NHS boards with evidence to set targets / measure outcomes and will enable the Scottish Government to review policy and commission future research.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
16/WS/0262
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion